An unusual partnership between the Perth Children's Hospital Foundation and the state government has underpinned the planned construction of a pedestrian bridge in Nedlands for an estimated $6.3 million.
The ‘kids bridge’ will allow patients at Perth Children’s Hospital to safely cross busy Winthrop Avenue and gain access to bushland at Kings Park.
It has been made possible by a $6.3 million funding commitment from the Perth Children's Hospital Foundation, which initially proposed the concept nearly a decade ago.
The PCH Foundation is one of Western Australia’s largest philanthropic foundations, with net assets of $69.1 million as at June 2019.
It distributed $4.8 million last financial year, ranking it as the fourth largest philanthropic foundation on the BNiQ database, with most of the money going towards medical equipment and research.
Chair Ian Campbell said the foundation was delighted to fund what it believed would prove a wonderful legacy to WA’s sick children and their families.
“The kids bridge will be an outstanding addition to the world-class facility that is the Perth Children’s Hospital,” he said.
While the foundation will pay for construction, Main Roads Western Australia will manage the design and construction of the bridge and meet the ongoing maintenance needs.
Engineering consultancy AECOM has been appointed to review the current design of the bridge.
While the construction cost remains subject to a tender process, foundation chief executive Carrick Robinson said there was a high level of confidence it would be delivered in line with the $6.3 million budget.
This is a big reduction from earlier estimates of $12 million.
That was based on design work by Fratelle Group, which won a Department of Health-led competition several years ago.
The foundation said AECOM's design concept had a more conservative focus on the project management and constructability requirements of the bridge.
A construction tender will be called when the final design is approved, with the successful builder expected to start in late 2020.
The bridge is expected to be completed and unveiled in the second half of 2021.
